Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-11-12
Saturday. November Ia. 1857.
ruEIAw WILL STAND.


departing for Washington, said
he did not think there was the remot-
est chance Of repeal of The Interstate
commerce law. There is not. The
representatives Of neither party In
Congress will make so serious "A mis-.
take as to attempt its repeal. There
will undoubtedly be q strong pressure
brought by the corporations which
would like to be restored TO their for
mer privileges, aud to which the pol
icy of regulation by the people Is tx
tremely repugnant, against the law.
1t is not unlikely that these corpora
tions will find few men on the floors
OF Congress who VIII be disposed TO
advocate their cause. There are mem.
bers of both houses who still owe ser.
vice to the railroads. some Of whom
may not be unwilling to sacrifice their
political hopes to the more profitable
present employment of the corpora
tious. But they will be very largely
in ths minority and powerless to sc-
complish anything for the overthrow
of the law. There Il no statute more
certain 10 remain for all time part of
the public law Of the country, subject
to such amendment from time to time
as experience and changed conditions
shall suggest, than the interstate
commerce law. Some changes will
probably be made by the next Con.
gIess, bat the PROMISE is that these
will not be numerous or radical. Con-
gress will be guided largely by the
recommendation of the commission
aud Judge Cooley, its chairman, has
very recently said that IL would have
few amendments to suggest. The as.
surance contaiued in this Is that the
body created to execute the law has
found IL to be in the main sufficient To-
accomplish the object of proper and
adequ regulation ot railroad trans.
portstion between the states.
fall has not been accomplished that
was expected or desired. there has al
least been Sufficient to establish the
soundness of the main principle of the
law, and TO remove all doubt from
minds open to conviction regarding
the practicability and the desiraOility
of the regulation provided for. De.
spite the combined efforts Of the
railroads to render the law odi-
Gus to the public and to Oh
struct and enbarrass its operation
"a bold aud systematic effort TO nulli-
fy statute which clearly demons
trated the desperate Character Of the
power with which the people were
contending-after six months Of trial
under great disadvantages and some
serious mistakes the aggregate results
of the working of the law are seen to
be to the advantage OF the people, ana
the gain ia that direction goes steadily
ou. The hostile combinations formed
when the law went into effect have
been to large extent abandoned, and
every step in tue disintegration of the
power arrayed TO defeat the just re.
quirement. OF the statute has been fol-
owed by y concession TO the public
demands, A great deal yet Remains
10 be done before the regulation sought
10 be established shall he complete
and all sections and localities receive
lust con .ideration. indus discrimins.
tion is still pracIistd, unjust prefer
ence. still prevail. But these condi-
tjons obnoxious TO the law are lees
general then they were few months
ago and are decreasing. The corpor-
ations themselves are learning the
folly aud futility Of q resistance that
must certainly eveDtuate in defeat
and yielding to the instinct OF selfish
ness, are one by one refusing 10 bt
longer bound by obligations which
bring them to no present advantage,
and which they know must Ia an
vent be sooner or lateer abandoned
Thus influences aud conditions quit,
outside Of the law are operating tC
produce results which in little while
will render its execution simple and
everywhere acceptable.
Under such favoring circumstance
the people will tolerate no interfer-
ence with the Interstate commerce
law which will 10 the least detracl
from Its main principle and purpos,
or diminish the authority 1t confers
upon:the agents Of the people to pro
tect their interests. Whatever change,
IL may receive must rather the NOR,
strongly fortify the principle and ell
large the authority 10 carry IL into Fl
feet. IL took years OF struggle agains
corporate influence and wealth, un
fcrupulously aud lavisbly used 10 Sc
cure the law. and the victory won b.
the people In Its adoption establishes
IL as a part of the Dublic Dolicy wlicl